'US to declare Iran's military a terrorist group'

WASHINGTON: The US intends to take action to formally label the Iranian Revolutionary Guard a foreign terrorist organisation, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday.

Citing unnamed government officials, the newspaper said that the US administration has made the decision to act against the Iranian military in an attempt to disrupt its finances.

Never before has Washington declared the military wing of a country a terrorist group.

The US has accused units within the Revolutionary Guard of aiding Shia Muslim militias and other insurgent groups within Iraq, including smuggling specialised landmines used to target armoured vehicles carrying US troops.

Tensions between Washington and Tehran have risen amid a continuing confrontation over the Iranian nuclear programme, which the US alleges is aimed at building weapons.